The task is set.Go to the city's central control center and shut down all the nuclear power plants.That is an absolutely non-negotiable line.It's the biggest reason I spent time getting the master key in the first place.Which means I have to harden my heart.I have to be willing to cut down anyone who stands in my way.I have not the slightest intention of sacrificing my own lifespan for someone else's beliefs or independent thoughts.Shutting down the nuclear plants is the clearest way to extend my own survival.—Just as that thought concludes, my point of focus habitually shifts.*Zzzzzzing—*The expressionless androids convey their mood with glowing red lasers."My apologies for the intrusion."Walking past them, I head for the door."This was it, wasn't it?"As I move my hand toward the button that opens the entrance to the top floor, one of the androids approaches.Surely it's not trying to stop me now. In the android's hand is a single data terminal.*Whiiiirrr—*"Ah, this is…"A terminal containing Gale's message.It must be the order he left for Vergo."Almost forgot."As I take the card-shaped terminal in my hand, a message appears.[T҈o m҉y de҈̡̜̬͓̅́̒̑̑̕ar V҈͖̰̃̇͋͢͡erg҈̡̦̞̪̆͝o҈̧̥͆͠]The words are invisible.Due to my Dyslexia trait, I can't read any text outside of the system.Losing interest, I press the open button with the hand that had paused.*Pssssshhh. Clank.*The scene visible through the opened doorway was that of the security guards, standing motionless in formation, waiting."Hmph.""Hmm…!"My eyes meet Vergo's sharp gaze. It wasn't hard to tell what he was looking at."Are those the chairman's glasses?""Yes.""I see. I don't know the circumstances, but it seems your talk went well."As soon as Vergo finishes speaking, a few of the security guards start to enter to check on Gale's condition.I had no intention of stopping them.They had to see Gale's state for themselves.However, it was the androids who blocked them instead.*Vvvvvvrrrmmm—*-Warning. No entry.- -Upon entry, will open fire immediately.-"...What are these things doing?""The chairman has entered cryosleep. It seems the androids intend to protect him in his dormant state.""If that's the case, we obviously have to check. Securing our client's safety is our job.""Command authority over the androids rests with the chairman.""Are you saying it was the chairman's will to bar even our entry?"Silence in this situation is synonymous with affirmation.Vergo's expression hardened."Did the chairman leave any other message?""It's right here."I hand the terminal over to Vergo.The card-shaped terminal is Gale's personal memo pad."…Hmm." As Vergo peers at the message left by Gale, his eyes grow increasingly cloudy and sunken."Chief, what does it say?""Don't approach. Stand by.""Ch-chief?"It's a time when their symptoms are rapidly worsening.The soon-to-be mutants were showing an uncharacteristic impatience.That's why Vergo couldn't share the memo pad."Is all of this true?""I don't know what it says, but looking at your expression, I can guess its contents.""The mu— no, I asked if the *change* is real."The fact that he used the word 'change' instead of 'mutation' reveals the stance he's trying to take—an effort to prevent those showing signs from falling into greater chaos and acting erratically."It is."Vergo's eyes grew more and more complicated. And what they finally settled on was his own comrades."Chief?""Please, tell us too. Is there a way to alleviate these symptoms written there?""You, you said you knew a cure, didn't you? Can you tell us, too?"They were human, too.As the pain grows, so too must the chaos.These phenomena were steadily closing in on Vergo, and he would soon be forced to make a choice."How much time is left?""Eight hours."It's a little past three in the afternoon.In eight hours, the first mutant will appear.Within three hours after that, most of those with symptoms will transform."We're moving to Weizen Pharmaceuticals right now." Before being forced to choose, Vergo made his decision. Had a method to alleviate the symptoms been written in the memo? He chooses to save all of his comrades.However."I will be going to the central control center."I can't set aside a more important task to carry out a method that isn't even certain."Did I hear you wrong?""No." I can't back down. As I said, this is a non-negotiable line.Vergo's expression twists into a hard mask."Didn't you come here to save the chairman? And now you're trying to back out?"Was it because he felt cornered? Vergo chose physical pressure over conversation."Ch-chief!""Stay put!"Pressure on my neck.Vergo grabbed me by the collar and hauled me up."Say that again."Why does that pressure feel so flimsy?"I said I am going to the central control center."If anything, my head grows colder.At the same time, my gaze shifts to our surroundings.Vergo's extreme reaction was only agitating his agents even more.So I make a calculation.What would be the most rational course of action for everyone involved.But first, I have to deal with this collar.His hand, gripping my lapel in a tight knot.I wrap my own hand around that rough, calloused hand of his and apply pressure."…!?"Vergo's eyes momentarily waver.His grip breaks far too easily.He stares down at his own palm as if in disbelief."You all go to Weizen Pharmaceuticals."*'He's not a necessary survivor right now. It won't matter.'*"One of the ways to alleviate the symptoms is to inject an NH-03 mitigator into the body.""I-if we do that, will the symptoms ease?" one of the agents asks desperately.I shake my head. "I can't say for sure. It only opens up the possibility.""And if that doesn't work, what happens then?""After that, even I can't guess. I can only say… in the worst case, you could die."The agents seemed to be pulling themselves back together from the brink of panic.This tiny piece of circumstantial evidence that there was hope—perhaps that was all they needed.But Vergo, who faced a fragment of the truth, had a different attitude."Hey, our conversation isn't—""We don't have time for this. To be frank, would I be of any great help even if I moved with you?"*'Looks like Gale wrote down his suspicions in the memo pad.'*An NH-03 mitigator.Even if they inject it, will the modified genes change back immediately?The reason it's called a mitigator in the first place is that it slowly alleviates symptoms to return the modified genes back to normal.In other words, it takes time.Therefore, to use that method, the technology of 'cryosleep' to extremely slow the mutation speed is an absolute necessity. Furthermore, considering that it's a gamble with no guaranteed success rate, sending them to Weizen Pharmaceuticals now was tantamount to irresponsibly throwing them a sliver of hope.*'That's why he wants to take me with him. He thinks I must have some other method.'*And so, I drive the final nail in."Vergo, I don't know any method beyond that. What I mean is, I don't know anything better than the best you all can do."The finality of it becomes a wedge, hammered in.I truly don't know any method beyond ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ administering the mitigator.A short silence. The silence stretched on for quite a while, but I wait patiently.Soon after, Vergo, having recognized the situation, could not erase the wretched expression from his face."Why are you trying to go to the central control center?""Because the nuclear reactors' operation must be stopped.""Why? Is there a reason that's more important?""The electromagnetic pulse fried all the transmission lines. It means the electricity produced by the power plants isn't being properly discharged. What's more, the events about to unfold in this city will lead to a situation where they can't be managed at all.""I can't let you go."The crude longsword has no special functions yet. But from the moment I gripped it, I had a pretty good idea.That these guys were no match for me.At least, assuming we fought bare-handed, the thought that I could lose to anyone had long since vanished."I'm asking you please. Just clear the way.""I'll ask you, too. Just come along quietly."A conversation running on parallel tracks.Changing the flow of that conversation was a simple action.*'Slash.'*The moment it forms in my mind, countless lines appear in my vision.A light action of swinging my hand along those lines.[Slash LV.1]There was no grand roar.And for that very reason, the slicing sound was all the more chilling.Vergo's gaze, as if mesmerized, drops to the floor."Hey…""You're next, Mr. Heinz."The image of a straight crack carved into the floor.If you looked closely, you could tell its depth was extraordinary. The important thing was the fact that I had cut the building's floor with a blade.Countless pairs of eyes in the vicinity, pretending silence, tremble ceaselessly.Vergo was no different."Ch-chief. Let's just go… please.""That's right. He said there's no other way anyway, didn't he?""Finding the mitigator at Weizen is something we can do on our own."The security guards make the most rational judgment they can in the current situation.As I stare blankly at them, Vergo continues."Are you from the military?""No.""For someone who's not, you seem to be plastered with military-grade implants all over your body.""…""What's your name?""Kyle Han.""I'll remember that name. If you're lying… I'll leave what happens next to your imagination."A bitter laugh escapes on its own.That's why I had no choice but to leave him with just these words."Someday, a devastating situation will occur. And when it does, the moment will come when you realize what it was I was trying to do."I had failed to keep Vergo as a friendly survivor.It was a shame.I could only hope that the moment he realizes what my actions were for, his attitude would change."It will be difficult to be forgiven by the Chairman... Hurry up. We're going to Weizen."Watching Vergo's retreating back, I couldn't erase the bitter aftertaste.Just as that aftertaste began to fade like a lingering scent, it was by chance that my eyes met with someone who had been watching the situation from afar."…Mr. Han.""What were you doing here, Eli?"Eli Wayless. It seemed she had been following me.

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